Love Lock

Chapter 182 The Origins Are Too Deep
Wei Dabao glanced furtively at the constables around him, who were holding disciplinary batons. His Adam's apple bobbed violently, and large beads of sweat dripped down his thick, three-layered chin onto the bluestone ground, forming a small puddle.

His fingers gripped the hem of his clothes tightly, tearing several jagged wrinkles into the expensive brocade fabric.

He didn't know if the events at the Marquis of Champion's mansion were related to the jade pendant he had lent to Han Lei, but since the pendant wasn't with him, he couldn't explain it now!

If only I hadn't acted impulsively and lent out the jade pendant out of greed.

"Han Lei?"

No sooner had Wei Dabao finished speaking than Princess Chang Le abruptly stood up from her seat, the pearl strings on her gilded hairpin swaying violently. "You know Han Lei?"

Her voice suddenly rose, the last syllable trembling unnaturally. Her slender fingers unconsciously dug into her palms; the long-forgotten name felt like a dull knife, brutally reopening her scabbed wounds.

Startled by the sudden aura, Wei Dabao shrank back, his back slamming heavily against the yamen runner's sword behind him.

"No...not that familiar," he stammered.

"Absurd." Princess Chang Le rebuked without thinking, as if she had heard a funny joke: "Since you're not that close, why would you easily lend your family jade pendant to an outsider?"

Then, Princess Chang Le looked at the other members of the Wei family and asked, "Do you think you would easily give your family jade pendant to a complete stranger?"

The Wei family members all shook their heads, and Old Madam Wei even prostrated herself on the ground and kowtowed heavily, a few strands of her silver-white hair falling loose.

"Your Highness, please understand that our Wei family's ancestral precept is that the jade pendant is the life of the person, and the loss of the jade pendant means death! We will never lend it out."

“Really…really. That day Han Lei said…she could partner with me in business, so I…” Wei Dabao said eagerly.

"Ah!"

Princess Chang Le laughed in anger, but the smile, combined with his plain clothes, looked sinister and eerie.

"Your Wei family has been distinguished for generations, and you have a large and powerful family. Would you choose to do business with a lowly person like Han Lei from a poor, remote place? Do you even believe that yourself?"

Wei Dabao was almost in tears: "I believe it, it's true! She said she's going to open a shop in Beijing..."

Unfortunately, he was interrupted by Princess Chang Le's shrill voice before he could finish speaking.

"You're talking nonsense. If it were Han Lei, how could she order the guards of your Wei family to escort her out of the city? Do you think I'm blind? Han Lei is a woman, while the one who killed my whole family that day was a chubby little boy, a man. He looks seven-tenths like you."

"Resembles me?"

Wei Dabao pointed incredulously at himself. The absurd accusation sent chills down his spine, as if he had suddenly fallen into an ice cave.

"No, I really gave it to Han Lei, to the county magistrate of Qingshui County..."

He crawled a few steps, intending to say that Magistrate Luo Hai of Qingshui County could testify, but before he could finish speaking, the sharp sound of the gavel echoed in the hall.

"Snapped!"

Sun Wenlin, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, sat up straight, his bloodshot eyes sweeping over the people below. His face under his official hat looked frighteningly haggard.

He hadn't slept a wink for half a month because the case remained unsolved, and now his temples were throbbing.

"Enough! This is getting more and more absurd. This is a lie full of holes..." Sun Wenlin scolded impatiently.

He couldn't wait for the case to be closed so he could go back and get a good night's sleep.

He rubbed his temples wearily and waved to the south gate guard standing to the side: "Commander Liu, go forward and identify the person."

Liu, dressed in military uniform, stepped forward hesitantly, his rough fingers unconsciously rubbing the hilt of the knife at his waist.

Wei Dabao stared at him, and he stared back at Wei Dabao with wide eyes, carefully recalling the scene from that night, comparing it with the familiar outline, and then nodded.

Actually, the person in the carriage only lifted the curtain a little that night, so he couldn't see very clearly.

But he was certain that what he saw was a round, plump, triple-layered chin.

Upon seeing that Commander Liu had identified her, Princess Chang Le's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

She knelt before Emperor Jing, pointed at Wei Dabao, and cried, "Your Majesty, Commander Liu has confirmed it's him. He dares not produce the jade pendant; he's clearly just making excuses. It's him! He must have killed my whole family! I beg Your Majesty to do justice for Chang Le!"

"Ah?" Wei Dabao was instantly terrified and hurriedly kowtowed to Emperor Jing, crying out his innocence: "Your Majesty, they are talking nonsense, it wasn't me, it really wasn't me."

Emperor Jing sat upright above, his brows furrowing slightly.

Han Lei is now the Queen Consort of the King of Cangzhou, and cannot enter the capital without an imperial edict. Even if she did enter the capital, his secret guards would receive the news immediately and report it to him, but he did not receive any relevant information.

"His Majesty!"

Princess Chang Le suddenly collapsed beneath the steps, her white dress spreading out on the blue bricks like shattered moonlight.

Her upturned face was streaked with tears, and her fingernails dug deep into the ground.

"Your Majesty, do not listen to his excuses... We beg Your Majesty to do justice for Chang Le!"

Princess Chang Le's last few words were almost uttered with tears of blood, echoing for a long time in the empty hall.

Emperor Jing took a deep breath and looked down at Prime Minister Wei's gray head, his back now hunched over like a broken bow.

"Minister Wei." Emperor Jing's voice carried a weary yet authoritative tone.

Prime Minister Wei kowtowed heavily, his head hitting the bricks with a dull thud: "This old minister... has nothing to say." His cracked lips trembled: "If it is truly this wicked creature... then... then Your Majesty may decide what to do with it."

The gavel struck again, and the hoarse voice of Sun Wenlin, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, announced the verdict.

"Take the suspect to the dungeon! A joint trial will be held at a later date." With that, Sun Wenlin waved his hand. "The rest of the innocent are released immediately. Court adjourned!"

"I'm innocent!" Wei Dabao suddenly burst into a pig-like scream, and the two constables almost couldn't hold down his fat body.

As he struggled, he tore open his collar, revealing an inner garment embroidered with the Wei family crest.

"Your Majesty!" Princess Chang Le's shrill voice drowned out everything, "Since there are witnesses and physical evidence, why delay? He should be executed immediately."

Her nail polished nails dug deep into her palms, and her eyes were filled with hatred as she looked at Wei Dabao.

As Emperor Jing rose, his dragon robe billowed in a chilling wind. He looked down at his niece, who had been driven mad by hatred.

"Chang Le, now that the murderer has been caught, the Dali Temple has its own procedures. You shouldn't interfere any further. Go back!"

Emperor Jing's words were like a block of ice, freezing Princess Chang Le's subsequent lamentations in her throat.

"Your Majesty, Uncle-in-law..."

Princess Chang Le cried out indignantly. But Emperor Jing had already walked around the table and strode away.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty!"

The people in the hall immediately saw Emperor Jing off.

Two bailiffs rushed forward and grabbed Wei Dabao, who struggled and cried out for justice. But Emperor Jing left, and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review also stood up and went into the inner hall, leaving his cries for justice unanswered.

"No, no. It wasn't me, it wasn't me... Ah..." Wei Dabao cried out. This pampered young master was finally dragged out of the hall, limp as a rag, his robes leaving a winding trail of water on the bluestone slab.

Madam Wei fainted on the spot. The sound of the maids frantically pinching her philtrum mingled with the faint cries from afar, echoing for a long time in the Dali Temple as dusk deepened.

In the entire Dali Temple, only one person believed Wei Dabao's words. That person was Wei Chengchao, the son of Prime Minister Wei.

He was innocent and released on the spot. As he left the Dali Temple and passed by Wei Dabao, he gave Wei Dabao a deep look, his eyes full of sympathy.

Just now, when Wei Dabao mentioned Han Lei's name, his heart skipped a beat.

Wei Dabao lives in Cangzhou, and so does that bitch Han Lei. Although she doesn't use poison to control him like he does, his way of doing things reminds him of that bitch Han Lei.

He simply didn't have enough evidence.

He was only guessing, so he didn't dare to bring it up.

If it's brought up, and it can't be proven that it was that bitch Han Lei who did it, then he'll likely be dragged back into this mess. At that point, his life will be in danger.

Besides, every business he was running as the listed owner was ultimately owned by Han Lei. His connection with Han Lei was too deep; he couldn't mention her. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to clear his name from suspicion.

Therefore, he only dared to look at his fellow clansman Wei Dabao with sympathy, but dared not offer any help without permission.

By the time we finished at Dali Temple, the sun had set, and twilight was gradually spreading across the horizon.

The red lanterns in front of the Drunken Immortal Brewing House lit up one after another, swaying gracefully in the twilight, making the three gilded characters "Drunken Immortal Brewing" particularly eye-catching.

The tavern was bustling with activity, filled with the rich aroma of wine as people mingled and drank; it was the busiest time of day.

In a private room on the second floor, Tang Xiaotong, the manager of Jinxiufang, had been sitting alone for the entire afternoon.

On the huanghuali wood table in front of him were three or four celadon wine pots scattered haphazardly, and the side dishes that were meant to accompany the wine were reduced to scraps and crumbs.

The last rays of sunset slanted in through the carved window frame, casting dappled light and shadow on his handsome face.

"Another pot..." Tang Xiaotong raised his hand and called out loudly, his voice tinged with a hint of drunkenness, yet unable to conceal his stubbornness.

Just as the waiter was about to respond, the tavern owner, Yang Haibo, personally carried in a tray.

Yang Haibo's eyes, beneath his thick eyebrows, were bright and piercing, but at this moment they were filled with worry.

"Xiao Tong, what's wrong with you?" Yang Haibo put down the newly added wine and dishes, and casually took away a few empty pots, his brows furrowed. "You've been drinking since noon, could something have gone wrong at Jinxiufang?"

Tang Xiaotong raised her hazy, drunken eyes, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

He was naturally handsome, and now, with his cheeks flushed from the wine, he looked even more like a jade statue.

But those eyes, which were usually full of smiles, were now brimming with unyielding sorrow.

"Brother!" His voice was hoarse, his fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of his wine glass. "I...I'm afraid I've committed a grave offense..."

Yang Haibo felt a pang of anxiety upon hearing this and quickly sat down opposite him.

He lowered his voice and asked, "What happened? We've known each other for years, is there anything you can't tell me?"

The private room fell silent for a moment, with only the occasional sound of horses' hooves and vendors' cries coming from the street outside the window.

Tang Xiaotong took a deep breath and gulped down a glass of wine. The spicy liquid slid down her throat, but it couldn't extinguish the fire in her heart.

“I love someone,” he finally spoke, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible, “someone… I shouldn’t love.”

Yang Haibo breathed a sigh of relief and patted him on the shoulder with a smile: "I thought it was something serious! Love between men and women is perfectly normal. Which young lady has you so infatuated with? I'll ask a matchmaker to propose marriage tomorrow!"

Tang Xiaotong shook her head, a trace of pain flashing in her eyes: "I can't say it... I can't ask for it... and even more... I can't marry it."

"Who exactly is it?" Yang Haibo became even more curious about him because of his appearance.

Tang Xiaotong closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her eyes were filled with determination: "It is... Princess Yujia, the Turkic princess sent for a political marriage."

"What?!" Yang Haibo was so shocked that he jumped up from the stool, almost knocking over the wine pot.

He rushed forward and covered Tang Xiaotong's mouth, his face turning deathly pale.

"Xiao Tong, are you crazy?! How dare you say such a thing!"

As he spoke, he rushed to the door, slammed it shut, checked the windows to make sure they were secure, and then returned to the table, his forehead beaded with sweat.

Tang Xiaotong smiled bitterly and poured himself another glass of wine: "I know... I know this is outrageous. But I can't control my heart, brother..."

Yang Haibo sat down heavily, his voice low with tension.

"Little Tong, are you out of your mind? Wake up! Princess Yujia is entering the palace as a concubine tomorrow, and you...you're going to lose your head!"

"How could I not know?" Tang Xiaotong tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup. As his Adam's apple bobbed, a single tear quietly slid down his cheek.

The Drunken Immortal Brew was 52 proof, but at this moment, it seemed that only such strong liquor could take away the sorrow in his heart.

"From the day the princess came to Jinxiufang to choose clothes, the moment I saw her... I was captivated."

His voice gradually faded into the distance, as if returning to that sunny afternoon.

Princess Yujia was dressed in Turkic attire, with wildflowers adorning her hair instead of jade hairpins, making her even more dazzling than the magnificent silks in the shop.

As her fingertips lightly brushed against the silks and satins, Tang Xiaotong felt her heart pounding faster than normal.

"She picked out a few cheongsams, saying she wanted them embroidered with Gesang flowers from the northern frontier..." Tang Xiaotong murmured, her eyes unfocused. "Later, she often came to the shop, sometimes to have the dresses altered, sometimes just... just to look at the new fabrics. Every time she came, she would chat with me for a few minutes..."

Yang Haibo was terrified: "You...you wouldn't..."

"Nothing at all!" Tang Xiaotong suddenly looked up, a glimmer of clarity flashing in her drunken eyes. "How could I dare to overstep the bounds in the slightest? It's just... just watching her smile and listening to her speak, and I feel... I feel that this life is enough."

As Tang Xiaotong spoke, her voice lowered again.

“I know who I am… I’m just a lowly silk shopkeeper, how could I be worthy of a princess of noble birth? But my heart… my heart won’t obey me…”

Seeing him like this, Yang Haibo felt both anxious and pained.

Because his family was too poor, he himself was already of marriageable age but still unmarried, and he knew the pain of unrequited love. However, Tang Xiaotong's situation was not only a matter of social disparity, but also a matter of life and death!
“Xiao Tong, my brother, listen to my advice.” Yang Haibo grasped his trembling hand. “Give up this idea as soon as possible. When the princess enters the palace tomorrow, pretend you’ve never seen her, never…”

“How can you pretend you’ve never seen it before?” Tang Xiaotong turned to look at him, her eyes glistening with tears.

“I remember every smile she left behind in Jinxiufang, every word she said! She said the sky in the Turkic Khaganate was bluer than the capital, that the wind on the grasslands carried the scent of grass… She said… that after marrying into the palace, she feared she would never see me again, never see that kind of sky again…”

At this point, Tang Xiaotong could no longer hold back and buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

The suppressed sobs were like a dull knife, slowly stabbing at Yang Haibo's heart.

"I hate... I hate my own powerlessness..."

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